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"Do you know when you'll be chatting with Haim?" a message pops up. "My request was to ask if I can become their fourth member."

There is only a key snag: The sender also desires to be the Haims' fourth member. And we're far from alone. Several high-profile admirers have also petitioned for the position.

It's clear something is going on. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana started their musical journey doing sets at small eateries with their parents. Today, they are multiple Grammy Award contenders.

Like all the greatest bands, they're a close unit. Their videos frequently feature them striding in harmony down the roads of Los Angeles. On stage, they jam with such pure exuberance you can't help but think, "I wish to be a piece of that, too."

"The numerous instances on tour that young girls approached us and said, 'Watching you live, I bought a bass'," states Alana, the most junior of the sisters. "It is the biggest compliment. That's an award in itself. We have succeeded if we can encourage young girls to form a group."

"And thus all is invited to be the fourth Haim sister."

Grammy Recognition

The band have called into their homes, where they're taking a pause after an extensive tour in support of their new album, I Quit.

They're right now reeling from the news it's been shortlisted for best rock album at the Grammy Awards – with Haim the first female band ever in the running for the prize.

"I follow the nominations every year, so it almost feels like an out-of-body experience when your name is announced," says Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this correctly or am I dreaming'?"

The significance of the nomination is deeply felt by the sisters.

"We deliberately set out to make a rock record this time, so it's a significant achievement," says Alana. "Yet we're just thankful for the pioneers that paved the way."

Personal Turmoil and Humour

The record came out of a time of transition. All three sisters found themselves single, and the music captures that strange liminal space where you're relieved to be free, but not entirely ready to start anew.

The themes detail endings and partings. The sisters desire love, but not the kind of love they've experienced. You can hear them working out in real life who they are becoming.

"That's a perfect description, yes," agrees Danielle. "I Quit is essentially a slogan. You have to make an effort in shutting out the criticism and saying, 'I don't give what people think'."

Refinement of Sound

That newfound resilience called for a different sonic direction – more organic and direct than any of the music the band had done before.

For Danielle, who co-produced the album, that began with the percussion.

"The drum sound is such a specific thing, and I focus so intensely about it," she emphasizes.

"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the subject of our biography," jokes Alana. "I've said it, our albums won't commence until we find the perfect drum sound."

Experiences and Shared Humor

The trio's candor inspired the album's marketing, where the sisters shared some of their personal tales.

A former partner left Este over a health concern. Alana recalled a story of travelling to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a high five at midnight.

"When you're going through these setbacks, you just feel like there's no hope," notes Alana. "Thus to be able to find humor in those stories and have them tell you more outrageous stories, it's incredible."

An Assured Legacy

One can easily sense a change in the band. These days, Haim are more certain of their position in the industry.

They're top-billed acts, with hit albums and an global fan base.

Yet the band will always be their number one commitment.

"My sisters and I have been performing since I was little," shares Alana. "It feels as if no alternative that we were destined for. And I'm really grateful we've gotten here and we're still going strong."